Holy Trinity v Newark Town

9 Man Town Reach Final of Willie Hall Cup

Newark have won the Willie Hall cup twice in the last two seasons and so were hoping for a possible third attempt in a final.

In the first half, Newark unfortunately had a central defender sent off for a heavy tackle.

In the second-half, for a push in the penalty area, Newark conceded on 55 minutes and Holy Trinity, who sat second in the First Division, capitalised from the resultant penalty kick, taken well by Jason Thurlby 1-0. Shortly after and with around 25 minutes remaining Town's keeper Anthony Richardson was dismissed from the pitch by the Referee, leaving Town with massive up-hill struggle and nine somewhat bewildered players.

Newark regrouped, the team was reshaped leaving only one striker, centre-forward, Jimmy Rusby. Simon Greenfield, dropped into a more central defensive position together with Tom Perkins playing deeper acting as an attacking left back. Luke Parsons, the captain, took control of his team and never missed a tackle or header and made some good forward runs. For the first time really in the game with Damion Lloyd running directly at the Trinity defence Newark started to play some neat attacking football. With 20 minutes remaining Jimmy Rusby chased down a ball and made a low and accurate cross into the penalty area the resultant loose ball was pounced on by the tireless Liam Warner he controlled pulled the ball back and blasted it into the net from 3 yards out 1-1. Shortly after Trinity were unlucky not to take the lead when a powerful shot was headed off the line by Ben Lund.

With ten minutes remaining, whilst playing the better football, Newark it seemed, were facing extra time with only nine players. Newark however, after putting some pressure on the Trinity defence were awarded a free-kick 20 yards from the Trinity goal, a well placed ball by Tom Perkins found the head of Liam Warner who scored from 5 yards out, a flick header, directed preciously into the bottom of the Trinity net 1-2.

Holy Trinity were certainly not easily beaten with Liam Moran and James Miller playing some of Trinitys best football. Man of the match for Trinity was justly awarded to Liam Moran, for Newark, it was deservedly bestowed upon Liam Warner.

Well done Newark, against the odds and the clock you showed great character and are now in the final of the Willie Hall Cup.